Veterans Day: 10 Reasons to Hire a Military Veteran

Stockbyte/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Capitol Hill Democrats and Republicans lowered their swords long enough to pass the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which dangles tax credits at employers as incentive to hire military veterans.

But Veterans Day is a reminder that there are plenty of other reasons to hire military vets.  Here are 10 of them, courtesy of the U.S. Labor Department:

Accelerated learning curve: Veterans have the proven ability to learn new skills and concepts.  In addition, they can enter your workforce with identifiable and transferable skills, proven in real-world situations.

Leadership: The military trains people to lead by example as well as through direction, delegation, motivation, and inspiration.  Veterans understand the practical ways to manage behaviors for results.  They also know the dynamics of leadership as part of both hierarchical and peer structures.

Teamwork: Veterans understand how genuine teamwork grows out of a responsibility to one’s colleagues.  Military duties involve a blend of individual and group productivity.  They also necessitate a perception of how groups of all sizes relate to each other and an overarching objective.

Diversity and inclusion in action: Veterans have learned to work side by side with individuals regardless of diverse race, gender, geographic origin, ethnic background, religion, and economic status as well as mental, physical, and attitudinal capabilities.

Efficient performance under pressure: Veterans understand the rigors of tight schedules and limited resources.  They have developed the capacity to know how to accomplish priorities on time, in spite of tremendous stress.  They know the critical importance of staying with a task until it is done right.

Respect for procedures: Veterans have gained a unique perspective on the value of accountability.  They can grasp their place within an organizational framework, becoming responsible for subordinates’ actions to higher supervisory levels.  They know how policies and procedures enable an organization to exist.

Technology and globalization: Because of their experiences in the service, veterans are usually aware of international and technical trends pertinent to business and industry. They can bring the kind of global outlook and technological savvy that all enterprises of any size need to succeed.

Integrity: Veterans know what it means to do “an honest day’s work.” Prospective employers can take advantage of a track record of integrity, often including security clearances.

Conscious of health and safety standards: Thanks to extensive training, veterans are aware of health and safety protocols both for themselves and the welfare of others. On a company level, their awareness and conscientiousness translate into protection of employees, property, and materials.

Triumph over adversity: In addition to dealing positively with the typical issues of personal maturity, veterans have frequently triumphed over great adversity.  They likely have proven their mettle in mission critical situations demanding endurance, stamina, and flexibility.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio